Pocket flashlight construction



P 1956 s. SCHWARTZ 2,762,907

POCKET FLASHLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Filed June 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIII/Ig/{Tg/Z A504. I50 78/ v [33 f; mmvrox.

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United States Patent Office This invention relatesto portable lighting devices, and more particularly, is directed to improved pocket dry cell battery flashlight constructions having casing light beam closure means operated to open or close with the battery switch operation.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide improved flashlight constructions of the character described comprising few and simple parts, which shall be easily assembled to forma reliable and dependable pocket flashlight capable of withstanding rough and hard usage, yet which shall be small and compact for convenient handgrip operation and so as to be readily carried in the pocket, in handbags, or on a key chain, which shall be neat and attractive in appearance, foolproof in operation, capable of quantity lowcost production, and prac tical and eificient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The'invention, accordingly, consists of the features of constructions, combination of elements, and-arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an improved pocket keychain flashlight constructed to embody the invention having a casing formed of mated halves and showing the side, front and top with a closurelid in open position to permit passage of light beams from the incandescent lamp for desired illuminating purposes.

'Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the improved flashlight shown in Fig. 1 with the keychain being broken away and the closure cap seated in position over the openend to the dry cell compartment.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken centrallythrough the flashlight shown in Fig. 1,-exposing the interior of one of the mating halves and with the lid in closed position and switch in open circuit or off position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary portion of Fig; 3, but with the lid shown in open position and the switch in closed circuit or on position.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the flashlight constructiontaken on'line 5-5 in Fig. 3, but'showing the lamp-bulb in top plan view.

Fig. 6 isa sectional view of the flashlight construction taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 3 through the switch handle lever hinge.

Fig. 7 is a view as seen along line 77 in Fig. 4 showing a portion of the casing and lid hinge in section and details of the .cemented joint construction uniting the casing mating-halves.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 3 showing in detail attachment anchorage of the spring jumper within the casing structure.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the spring jumper removed from the casing assembly.

2,762,907 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of a modified construction embodying the invention showing portions of the casing broken away to expose one modified feature of the interior whereby the mating halves of the casing are mechanically retained together, and

Figs. 11, 12, 13 are sectional views taken on lines 1111, 12-12, and 13-13, respectively, in Fig. 10 showing in detail the incorporation of the mechanical retaining means uniting the casing mating halves.

Referring in detail to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 9, 20 denotes a compact pocket flashlight of a type that can conveniently be carried in a vest pocket, in a womans handbag, or on a keychain, constructed to embody the invention. Flashlight 20 may be constructed of suitably united parts forming a casing, as for example, mating halves, such as front half 21 and rear half 22, formed to receive in chamber or compartment 20a therebetween through a bottom end opening 20b thereof, a standard single dry cell battery 23, and a miniature size incandescent lamp 24. Said mated halves also retain in proper assembled alignment a switch member spring jumper or current carrying conductor 25, switch handle lever 26, and pivoted lid 27, as is clear from. Figs. 3 and 4. Said casing mating halves 21 and 22, lid 27, and switch lever 26 may be made of any suitable material and as here shown, are formed of molded resinous non-conducting resinous plastic of the same, or in decoratively contrasting colors.

Casing front and rear mating halves 21 and 22, when united, may provide suitably finished exterior sides 21a and 22a and interior sides 21b and 2212, respectively, the latter as herein shown abut in plane X-X, said halves 21 and 22 being rigidly united in said abutment with edge borders 21a and 22d, respectively, in face to face relation forming joint 200 in any suitable manner. As shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 7, said joint 200 is formed by cementing and in addition being secured together by spaced apart dowellings 28a to provide a permanent unitary casing structure from said halves 21 and 22.

With said halves 21 and 22 permanently joined together, the unitary casing structure formed may have an upper end portion, which extends beyond carbon terminal 23a. of battery cell 23, constructed and arranged with a throughpassageway 20d extending in alignment wit-hand communicating with battery receiving chamber 20a. Said passageway 20d may be formed with an undercut wall portion 202, adjoining said chamber 20a, sized and shaped to freely receive lamp base 24a of incandescent lamp 24 when bulb 24b thereof is mounted to extend into passageway portion 20d thereabove. A suitable seat,'such as'shoulder 20g is provided forlamp bulb 24b, and said passageway portion 20d has the surface contour 20 thereof upwardly and outwardly flared to serve as a reflector for projecting light beams from said lamp bulb 24b when lighted on energizing the circuit from battery cell 23, as is clear from Figs. 1, 3, and 4.

Said casing upper end portion above described may also beconstructed to support pivoted lid 27 so that the latter, when closed, extends as a hinged cover over outlet end of lamp reflector passageway portion 20d. Said pivoted lid 27 may have hinged portion 27a thereof formed with oppositely projecting stnb shafts 23 which are'rotata'bly mountedin bearing 29 provided in alignment on the interior sides 21b and 22b of casing halves 2'1 and 22, respectively, as a trunnioned support for the lid 27 as is clear from Figs. 3 and 7.

Said lid hinge portion 27a may also be constructed with suitable cooperative means for swinging lid 27 open and shut on manipulating switch handle lever 26. As herein shown, a wheel sector gear 30 is carried as part of lid portion 27a and is positioned midway between said stub shafts 28 for rotary movement therewith, said sector gear 30 meshing with a toothed rack 31 carried to terminate switch handle lever 26 at the upper end thereof, as is shown in Figs, 3, 4, and 10.

Switch handle lever 26 may be made of less width than the unitary casing structure, and as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, casing halves 21a and 22a may be cut away on wide and narrow sides thereof as at 21c and 22e, respectively, to normally expose a midportion 26a of said handle lever 26. Said halves 21a and 22a along narrow sides of the unitary casing structure are also sufliciently cut away at 21 and 22 to permit free swinging movements of switch handle lever 26 and lid 27, as is clear from Figs. 5, 6, and 7. Said switch handle lever 26 may have a lower hinged end portion 26b formed with oppositely projecting stub shafts 32 which are rotatably mounted in bearing 33 provided in alignment on the interior casing sides 21]; and 22b to form a trunnioned support for the switch handle 26 as is clear from Figs. 3 and 7.

, Switch handle midportion 26a exposed at casing opening formed by said cut away casing sides 21s and 22e may be, if desired, surface cut, as at 26c, to provide finger frictional grip means and also serve as a decorative trimming for the flashlight 20.

Interior casing sides 21b and 22b may have extensions which together form a partitioning wall 34 and spaced partition sections 34c extending to partially define battery cell compartment 20a. Said partitioning wall 34 extends up around the trunnioned support of switch handle lever 26, as a back support for said jumper 25 and is constructed and arranged also to provide a clearance space 20h to permit effective swinging movements of the switch handle lever 26. Below the latter, said partitioning wall 34 extends down as at anchoring portion 34b for securing portion 25a of jumper 25 and providing space 20k, as shown in Figs. 3, 6, and 8.

If desired, interior casing sides 21b and 221; may be channeled to have a suitable conduit or passageway 35 through which a suspending flexible coupling means, such as a bail, ring, or as here shown, a beaded chain 36 is threaded and retained by stretcher portion or rung 20 formed at the lower end of the flashlight casing adjacent to compartment bottom end opening 2% as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Spring conductor switch member or jumper 25 may be formed of a resilient copper or bronze strip, or the equivalent, and besides having an upper flexible blade portion 25b terminated by a rubbing contact end 250, also has a lower spring or flexible connecting end 25d opposite to said contact end 25c. A mid portion of said jumper 25 above said lower connecting end 25d may have an integral cut section proportioned and bent to provide a clamping hook 25a for gripping and rigidly securing to a portion 34b of partitioning wall 34, as shown in Figs. 3, 8, and 9, and is firmly embedded between said casing halves 21 and 22. The casing structure about said jumper lower connecting end 25d may be hollowed out as at 20k to provide clearance space to allow spring contact action for electrically connecting said jumper end 25d in circuit with a metallic screw closure cap 37 which is removably threaded into said compartment end opening 20b for connecting with the battery cell zinc terminal 23b through metallic helical spring 38 into said electric circuit as is clear from Fig. 3.

The practical operation of the invention will now be apparent. The lid 27, switch handle lever 26, and jumper 25 may be inserted in proper cooperative assembly between casing halves 21 and 22, with the sector gear 30 of lid hinge portion 27a meshing with said tooth rack 31 of switch handle lever 26, and said casing halves cemented and dowelled together to provide the unitary casing structure. Lamp 24 may then be inserted through casing battery cell compartment and opening 201; to seat lamp bulb 24b against casing interior shoulder 20: and to extend said bulb 24b into reflector passageway portion 20 The battery cell 23 may next be fitted into casing compartment 20a preferably with center carbon terminal 23a thereof to firmly abut and electrically connect with center contact 24d of lamp base 24b.

Electrical system of flashlight 20 will then include in series circuit lamp 24 and battery cell 23, and by screwing current carrying closure cap 37 with helical spring 38 in position against bottom terminal 23!; of battery cell 23 said cap 37 is brought to abut and electrically connect with said jumper contact end 25d in clearance space 20k. Said circuit will normally be open, that is, switched off, with said blade portion contact end 250 retained by blade portion 25b to urge handle lever 26 into a relatively limited outswung position away from ferrule contact 24a of lamp 24 and with lid 27 effectively positioned to serve as a closure covering lamp bulb 24b as shown in Fig. 3.

To operate the flashlight 20 for projecting light beams from lamp 24, thumb or finger-pressure is applied to handle lever 26 by simply grasping and squeezing the flashlight 20 in either hand. Handle lever 26 tnlnnioning with hinged end portion stud shafts 32 in bearing 33 will then be swung a limited distance into the casing, flexing said blade portion 25b to bring contact end 250 thereof into rubbing contact with the base ferrule contact 24a thereby closing or completing the circuit, that is switching the latter on. Simultaneously with said trunnioning movement of the handle lever 26, lid 27, through said tooth rack 31 and sector gear 30 meshing engagement, swings open from an initially closed portion to fully expose the lamp bulb 24b for permitting light beams to be projected therefrom and from the adjacent reflecting surface as is clear from Fig. 4, thus providing desired illuminating means.

On releasing said grip pressure applied to handle 26, the flashlight circuit will automatically be returned to the normal off switched position, the handle lever 26 and blade portion 25b moving by flexed spring actuation of the latter from the position shown in Fig. 4 back to the positions shown in Pig. 3, and at the same time, the lid 27 will be caused to return from said open to the initially closed position, handle 26 being limited in its movement by stop lugs 26d bearing on the interior of the casing structure as at 21g and 22g as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

If desired, the casing halves 21 and 22 may be made of molded plastic material that is translucent so that when flashlight 20 is in effective operation to project light beams from the lamp bulb 24b, a light glow is made available through side walls of the casing structure surrounding said bulb 2411. Such feature may be utilized not only to visually indicate the switch on, or o circuit position, but also serves as a convenient testing means for faulty or defective switching mechanism operations.

In Figs. 10 to 13, flashlight shows a modified em bodiment of the invention, one principal difference from that described above for flashlight 20 being in the construction and arrangement of permanently securing front and rear mating halves 121 and 122, respectively, together to provide a unitary casing structure, namely, in providing, if desired, a rigid joining arrangement that requires no adhesive or other cementing operation.

To that end spaced apart interconnections anchoring elements 128 may be provided which are force fitted into correspondingly sized and positioned slots 120 molded for registering alignment in casing front and rear halves 121 and 122. Said anchoring elements 128 may be formed with longitudinally arranged edge barbs 128a which, when elements 128 are force fitted into said slots 120 may be irremovably anchored in place to form joint 120c, as is clear from Figs. 10 to 12.

In constructions of flashlight 120 where said casing halves 121 and 122 each have a molded wall body of insuflicient strength to accommodate the provisions of slots 120 there may be provided instead, inlaid binding band with barbed edge ends 150a arranged and applied, for example, as shown in Figs. 10 and 13.

Where the lamp base ferrule contact 124a of lamp 124 of flashlight 120 used, is of the-smooth cylindrical type instead of being a screw shell 24a as shown in Fig, 4 for flashlight 20-, jumper 1-25 maybe made with an abrading edge terminal contact 1250 for making a self cleaning electric connection, and blade mid-portion 125a may be given a suflicient arcuately shaped'spring set to give a positive scrapping action by contact end edge 1250 as is clear from Fig. 10.

instead of providing a channeled structure for conduit or passageway 33 for beaded chain 36 in the lower end of easing of flashlight 20 lying in a plane X-X with the joint seam 200 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, flashlight 120 may be made with a passage 133 extending transversely to the plane XX for having threaded therethrough said suitable flexible coupling means as is clear from Figs. and 13.

Otherwise than above described, flashlight 120 may be constructed and assembled of parts and elements like those shown in Figs. 1 to 9 for flashlight 20, such similar parts being denoted where necessary in Figs. 10 to 13 by the same numerals.

Flashlight 120 operates and can be utilized in the same manner as described above for flashlight 20, It is to be understood that the casing construction for both flashlights Ztl and 12%) may be made to have seam joints c and 1200 thereof stepped or chamfered instead of being extended to lie in plane XX as shown.

It should be noted that flashlights 20 and 120 are not only of improved simple construction for reliable service operations, but also lend themselves to form neat and attractively designed articles for the purposes described.

Both flashlights 20 and 120 after being assembled for operation may be readily serviced when required by simply unscrewing cap 37 and removing or replacing through bottom opening 2% either the battery cells 23 or lamps 24, 124 or both as found necessary, and then replacing said cap 37 in the assembled position as is clear from Figures 3 and 10.

It will thus be seen that there is provided flashlight constructions in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A portable flashlight construction comprising a casing formed with a battery compartment and a throughpassageway communicating and aligning with said compartment, a lid mounted on one end of said casing to swing and extend as a closure over said through-passageway, a switch handle lever pivotally mounted for movement into and out of side wall of said casing adjacent said lid mounted end, means coacting between said lid and switch handle lever for actuating the swinging of the lid from a closed to an open position on applying pressure to the switch handle lever, an incandescent lamp with a bulb thereof extending into said through-passageway, a dry battery cell fitted into said compartment having one terminal electrically connected with a base contact of lamp, and a spring switch means within said casing resiliently retaining said lever and lid in a normally closed position movable upon applying pressure of said lever against the action of said spring switch means to close the electrical circuit for energizing said lamp.

2. In a portable flashlight construction, a unitary casing structure having a battery compartment provided with a bottom open end, and a top end formed with a through-passageway communicating and aligning with said compartment, an incandescent lamp mounted in said compartment with a bulb thereof extending into said through-passageway, a lid mounted at a hinge end thereof on said top end of the casing structure to swing from an upstanding open position to a position extending as a closure over said through-passageway and said bulb, a hand-grip switch handle lever hinged at one end thereof to a side wall of said casing structure at a spaced distance from said lid hinge mounting for swinging movement into and out of said side wall, said handle lever having a free end opposite said hinged end positioned for engagement '-with an extending hinge portion of said lid, and a cooperative interconnection between said handle lever free end and said lid extending hinge portion for swinging the lid from said closure extending position to said open position on application of pressure to the switch handle lever moving the latter into said casing structure side wall.

3. The portable flashlight construction as defined in claim 2 in which said cooperative interconnection includes a wheel sector gear carried by said lid hinge portion, and a rack meshing with said sector gear terminating said handle lever and swingable therewith.

4. The portable flashlight construction defined in claim 2, including a dry battery cell fitted into said compartment having one terminal thereof electrically connected with a base contact of said lamp, and a resilient current carrying jumper mounted within the casing for spring flexing movement opening and closing a switch connecting circuit through said battery cell and another base contact of said lamp on actuation by the swinging movement of said handle lever.

5. In a portable flashlight construction, a unitary casing structure formed of mating halves permanently assembled together with a continuous seam joint extending about said structure, said casing having a battery compartment provided with a bottom end opening, and a top end formed with a through-passageway communicating and aligning with said compartment, an incandescent lamp mounted in said compartment with a bulb thereof extending into said through-passageway, a lid mounted at a hinge end thereof on said top end of the casing structure to swing from an upstanding open position to a position extending as a closure over said through-passageway and said bulb, a hand-grip switch handle lever hinged at one end thereof to a side wall of said casing structure at a spaced distance from said lid hinge mounted for swinging movement into and out of said side wall, said handle lever having a free end opposite said hinged end positioned for engagement with an extending hinge portion of said lid, a cooperative interconnection between said handle lever free end and said lid extending hinge portion for swinging the lid from said closure extending position to said open position on application of pressure to the switch handle lever moving the latter into said casing structure side wall, said mating halves being formed with spaced apart aligned bearings trunnioning said lid and switch handle lever for said swinging movement, a dry battery cell fitted into said compartment having one terminal thereof electrically connected with a base contact of said lamp, and a resilient current carrying jumper mounted within the casing for spring flexing movement for opening and closing a switch connecting circuit through said oattery cell and another base contact of said lamp actuated by the swinging movement of said handle lever.

6. The portable flashlight construction defined in claim 5, in which said resilient current carrying jumper comprises a spring-flexing blade portion terminating in a switch contact end for said switch opening and closing, an anchoring means mid-portion for securing said jumper to an interior wall of said casing structure, a spring contact end terminating said jumper adjoining the anchoring means mid-portion and positioned adjacent said compartment bottom end opening, and a closure cap having electric conducting properties removably screw threaded 7 in said compartment bottom end opening for removal and replacement of said dry battery cell and contacting said jumper spring contact end for connecting in circuit with another terminal of said dry battery cell.

7. The portable flashlight construction as defined in claim 5 in which said cooperative interconnection includes a Wheel sector gear carried by said lid hinge portion, and a rack meshing With said sector gear terminating said handle lever and swingable therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 425,244 Oatman Apr. 8, 1890 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 15, 1915 

